8/2/2023
Owosso Speedway
Head (and shoulders) Above the Competition in Late Model Sportsman Debut
On a day when Mother Nature decided to make her presence known, a packed house of fans stuck around for a great night of racing action at the Owosso Speedway.
The Gross Construction Late Model Sportsman would start things off with their feature event. A season high car count would take the green flag. After jockeying for position in the opening circuits, eight-time Kalamazoo Speedway Champion Buddy Head would shuffle his way to the lead. While Head raced earlier in the season once in the Durotech Automotive Street Stocks, this was his first start of the year at Owosso in the division he has been most well known for over recent years. Head would put on a dazzling performance, picking up his first ever victory at the Owosso Speedway. Brandon Barcus, another first time visitor would parlay his experience on the similarly laid out Angola Motorsport Speedway in his native Indiana to come home a strong second. Two-time JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Champion Dan Leeck would complete the podium finishers. Chris Munson and Mike Beach would complete the top five finishers. Mike Beach would lower the track record in qualifying with a blistering fast 15.453.
The Durotech Automotive Street Stocks would have a very physical race that would end in an all-time great photo finish. Points leader Ron Hart would have a dreadful qualifying lap, and as a result would get sent to the rear for running three laps close to a half second faster than his qualifying time. Hart did everything in his power to try not to be denied, but Jim Miller Sr., riding a wave of momentum after two consecutive feature wins was a man on a mission. Eventually the irresistible force and the immovable object would meet on turn four of the very last lap. Coming to the line Miller would win by just a fender over Hart. Chris Begg was third with Jeff Owens and Lonnie Saumier completing the top five. Owens set a near record pace in qualifying with a 16.366.
After a delay for weather and track drying, the MacAllister Rental Sport Compacts would hit the track next for their C Feature. Ira Hosner would take the strong victory, but the best battle was behind the winner, Jeremy Kelley would finish second over Cody LaFleur, Chad Baker, and Larry Roush. It was a triumphant return to the Speedway for Hosner, and amazingly strong debuts for Kelley and LaFleur.
The MCR Dwarf Car Series would be next with an all-time great battle throughout the race. For nearly the entire race Matt Kemp and Eric Hoffman would have an amazing battle for the victory, trading the lead back numerous times back and forth over the duration of the race. However, as they encountered lap traffic, it would allow Troy Hoffman to close up on the top runners, and even get by Eric Hoffman for second. Kemp would finally seal the deal to take victory at Owosso this year, while Troy and Eric Hoffman would complete the podium runners. Keither Barker Jr., and Zack Nichols were the back end of the top five. Kemp was once again top qualifier with a 15.574.
The Valley Truck Center Modifieds would be next up for their feature event. 32 Modifieds arrived on grounds, with 24 starting the feature event which would serve the unofficial tune up before the Hot Shoe 100 on August 12th. David McManus would continue his strong 2023 campaign as he took the victory, his third of the season. Trevor Berry would have a strong runner up finish, with Tim Lahar coming home in third. Jason Parish would celebrate his birthday by finishing fourth after spending several laps at the front of the field. Corey Finley would round out the top five. Jeremy Pletz took victory in the 25-lap, $1500 to win B Feature over Norm Evans and Rick Wiecorek. Tim Lahar was fast time with a 15.255. Amazingly the entire 32 car field was separated by less than a second in qualifying!
In the M&K Truck Center Pure Stocks, it was a day in the sun for a driver who is considered both a favorite of the local fans and of his fellow competitors. Jason Spencer finally broke into victory lane in 2023 after several fast qualifier awards and bad luck standing in his way. The Owosso, Michigan drivers respect amongst his peers was shown when there was a line of competitors parked just outside of victory lane for the chance to congratulate Spencer. Among them were second and third place finishers Lonnie Saumier and Nick Johnston. Landon Hidy and Jim Miller Jr. completed the top five runners. Dan Gokee set a new track record in qualifying with a 18.065, getting the Pure Stocks THAT much closer to a record in the 17-second backet!
It would continue to be a day of triumph for the Hosner family in the MacAllister Rental Sport Compact B Feature, as Bryson Hosner ran to victory. Randy Moore would come home in the second spot with Jeff Asmus third, continuing to chip away at Marq Eaton’s B Division points lead, after Eaton struggled in this event. Adam Whitaker and Damian Watters completed the top five. Unfortunately the good luck for the Hosner’s would end in the A Feature. Drew Hosner would suffer mechanical woes early in the event. Johnny Eastman and Matt Elsey Jr. would have an amazing door to door battle for the majority of the event. Only in the waning laps would Elsey squeeze his way free to go to victory lane. Eastman was second while Nicholas Murdock, Mitch Dorin, and Core Miechiels completing the top five. Elsey would be quickest in qualifying with a 17.165.
Article Credit: Chris Fobbe
Submitted By: Chris Fobbe